Category: San Francisco Giants

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: A’s need to get hot to catch Yanks and Sox in AL Wild Card; Giants Covid problems continue Wood positive, Cueto flu symptoms

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Oakland A’s Mark Canha was dropped from the leadoff spot to the seventh position of the A’s line up after hitting for a .151 average after the New York Yankees series over last weekend (San Francisco Chronicle file photo)

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, how much work do the Oakland A’s have in front of them after splitting the four game series with the New York Yankees over the weekend in their bid to sniff post season.

#2 The A’s are 5 1/2 games behind first place Houston Astros in the AL West and in the AL Wild Card they are 2 1/2 game back behind the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees with a month left in the regular season the A’s have a huge task in front of them if they plan to get back into post season hunt.

#3 A’s leftfielder Mark Canha has been moved from the leadoff spot to the seven hole of the line up because his numbers have dwindled Canha is hitting .151 and said that when he’s off and getting o-fers it’s not a fun place to be. Canha said he needs to relax a little bit easier mentally.

#4 On other baseball news the San Francisco Giants had to switch out pitchers Alex Wood and Johnny Cueto Monday night because it was revealed that Wood had come down positive with Covid 19 and Cueto has the flu symptoms. Giants Donavon Solano and hitting coach Justin Viele are still back in a New York hotel quarantined after testing positive for Coronavirus.

#5 Cueto was scheduled to pitch on Monday against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers and with Wood out for Tuesday. Giants pitcher Jose Alvarez started on Monday for the Giants a big task after the Giants lost last Sunday in Atlanta 9-0 and opening up for four home games against another first place team like the Brewers.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s lead Spanish play by play announcer on flagship station 1010 KIQI La Grande San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants’ bats silent in 3-1 loss to the Brewers

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–The playoff atmosphere was present at Oracle Park on Monday night, but the Giants were minus a few, key pieces.

For the first time in 28 years, the Giants are exceptional, and so are their opponents. The Giants, Brewers and Dodgers are all more than 25 games above .500, setting up a week of playoff preview showdowns. Now, the dinged up Giants have to show they’re ready to answer the bell.

Instead of focusing in on the challenge of facing one of the NL’s premiere starters in Corbin Burnes, the Giants were preoccupied with making themselves whole heading up to the first pitch. Starting pitchers Alex Wood and Johnny Cueto were placed on the injured list with COVID complications, and both players saying they were likely experiencing effects from the virus. Reliever John Brebbia and Jason Vosler were recalled from Sacramento, and Jose Quintana, the 2016 All-Star with the Cubs was claimed off waivers from the Angels.

So for the second, straight game, the Giants were forced to turn to their bullpen from the start with Jose Alvarez as the starter, and Jarlin Garcia seeing the most activity. In all, seven Giants relievers took a turn and the Brewers essentially picked the group apart, scoring single runs in the first, second and eighth innings to pull out a 3-1 win.

Afterwards manager Gabe Kapler was philosophical, feeling that his bullpen group did what they could under difficult circumstances. He singled out Garcia, who went 3 2/3 innings, needing just 40 pitches to complete the stretch and keep the Giants within striking distance, down 2-0.

“It was a pretty impressive performance by Jarlin and the expectation is when he comes in after Alvarez, we need him to throw up zeroes,” Kapler said. “Alvarez, we expect him to throw up zeroes too. He wasn’t able to do that so you really need to stretch the next few guys in a bullpen game and Jarlin did just that for us.”

The Brewers won for the 80th time on the season, and the anticipation of what matchups may materialize in October were present in their minds throughout the evening.

“That was definitely a playoff atmosphere and something that could be foreshadowing of what we see in the postseason,” said Burnes, who cruised through six innings to pick up the win. “It’s always good to get the first one of the series. That was definitely a big one tonight.”

Burnes allowed just four hits and no walks. His first taste of adversity didn’t come until the seventh when he let the first two batters reach. But manager Craig Counsell turned to his bullpen and they shut the door after Brandon Crawford’s RBI single pulled the Giants within 2-1.

Josh Hader pitched a scoreless ninth and picked up his 28th save.

The Giants saw their cushion in the NL West shrink to 1 1/2 games as the Dodgers handled the Braves in Los Angeles. Also, it’s no longer a foregone conclusion that the Dodgers or Giants will finish with the NL’s best record, not with the Brewers in the mix, and holding a commanding lead in the NL Central. That possibility gives pause to the playoff matchups that seem to have the two West Coast rivals on a collision course for October.

On Tuesday, the Giants are hopeful they will have Cueto available to start in a matchup with Milwaukee’s Brandon Woodruff.

Brewers Burnes silences Giants bats in 3-1 win at Oracle

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Milwaukee Brewers starter Corbin Burnes throws to the San Francisco Giants line up in the bottom of the third inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP News photo)

By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–The NL West first place San Francisco Giants (84-47) owners of the best record in baseball have been slowly in meltdown they lost two out of three in Atlanta and opened Monday’s four game series against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers (80-52) with a 3-1 loss at Oracle Park.

The Giants ran into Brewers starting pitcher Corbin Burnes who pitched into the seventh inning and had a shutout going until Brandon Belt doubled and Kris Bryant hit a single to get the Giants on the scoreboard and Burnes was lifted for reliever Brad Boxberger. At the time the run cut the Brewers lead in half 2-1.

Boxberger gave up a double to Brandon Crawford in the bottom of the seventh inning but that would be all the scoring the Giants would get for the rest of the game. In the bottom of the ninth Bryant hit a double off Brewers closer Josh Hader who pitched for his tenth scoreless appearance and picked up is 28th save.

The Giants had to scramble before Monday’s game, scheduled starter Johnny Cueto was a scratch because of flu like symptoms. Jose Alvarez started for the Giants. Alvarez lasted only 1.2 innings four hits and two runs. Giants pitcher Alex Wood who says he was experiencing headaches and a sore throat tested positive for the Coronavirus with no need to be hospitalized.

Starting pitchers for Tuesday night’s game for the Brewers Brandon Woodruff (8-7 ERA 2.38) and the Giants have have not announced a starter yet.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Charlie O: Giants face another first place team as Brewers open 3 game series tonight

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Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Rowdy Tellez (11) argues with umpire Jeremy Riggs as the Brewers come to Oracle Park in San Francisco tonight to open a four game series with the San Francisco Giants (USA Today file photo)

On the Giants podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Charlie O Giants going well they have won eight of their last 11 games and when they got into Cobb County at Suntrust Park on Friday were met by a Atlanta Braves club that showed them why their a first place team taking the first game of the three game series 6-5.

#2 The Giants answered right back on Saturday getting a 5-0 shutout victory behind starter Logan Webb who pitched seven innings and gave up five hits. Webb had all his stuff working against the Braves line up on Saturday

#3 Sunday the Giants got shutout in a laugher 9-0 the Braves used five pitchers to accomplish the shutout.

#4 Charlie this is a Braves club that the Giants could very well end up meeting in the post season seeing the Braves at this juncture of the season does that give the Giants a leg up with one more month to go until the post season starts?

#5 Kris Bryant has been a huge help especially with the bat since he’s joined the Giants. The Giants would like him to sign on and stay with the club for next season but everything boils down to money and a good contract. How important do you see it for the Giants to have Bryant sign on and be at spring training for the Giants next season?

#6 The Giants will be facing another first place club the Milwaukee Brewers who hold a 7.5 game lead on the second place Cincinnati Reds. The Brewers have won five of their last ten as they pay a visit to the Giants at Oracle Park for the first of four games which starts tonight at 6:40pm PDT.

Charlie O is filling in for Morris Phillips who does the San Francisco Giants podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Braves shutout Giants 9-0 to end road trip on a down note

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Atlanta Braves pitcher Ian Anderson throws against the San Francisco Giants line up at Suntrust Park in Cobb County as Anderson and five relievers combined for a five hit shutout on Sun Aug 29, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

Jorge Soler loves to hit home runs and he showed it twice over the weekend in a big series between National League Division leaders.

Soler, who hit a three-run home run on Friday night, added a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning, helping the Atlanta Braves to a 9-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants at Truist Park. This was the first series for the Giants since they lost a series to the Pittsburgh Pirates from July 23-25, a span of nine series.

Following the Soler home run, his 20th of the season, Freddie Freeman reached on an infield single and then Austin Riley made it 3-0, when hit his 28th home run for the Braves, who took two out of three from the NL West Leading Giants.

Eddie Rosario broke the game in the bottom of the sixth inning, as he hit a two-run triple and then Ozzie Albies hit his 23rd home run of the season in the bottom of the eighth.

Ian Anderson made his return to the starting rotation for the Braves, as he allowed just four hits and walked two in 5.2 innings. It was the first start for Anderson since July 11, as he was out with inflammation in his right shoulder.

Anthony DeSclafani also was making his first start since coming off the injured list himself, as he was battling inflammation in his right ankle.

DeSclafani retired the first six batters he faced in the game, and then Rosario singled to start the bottom of the third inning for the Braves and DeSclafani was able to get out of the jam unscathed, when he got Albies to strikeout to end the inning.

After he allowed an infield single to Dansby Swanson with nobody out in the bottom of the fourth inning, DeSclafani left the game, as he allowed three runs and six hits in those three innings and he saw his record fall to 11-6 on the season.

NOTES: Prior to the game, Brandon Belt was activated from the bereavement list, DeSclafani was activated from the injured list. To make room for Belt and DeSclafani, Thairo Estrada was optioned to Sacramento and Tyler Chatwood was designated for assignment.

With their 15th shutout of the season on Saturday night, the Giants tied Milwaukee Brewers for the most shutouts in the Major Leagues. The last Giants team to have more than 15 shutouts in a season was the 2015 team, who threw 18 shutouts on the season.

Thru 130 games, the Giants are 84-46, just one game behind the best Giants in the San Francisco era, as the 1993 team was 85-45 on their way to a second-place finish in the NL West and finished 103-59, one game behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL West.

UP NEXT: Johnny Cueto opens the seven-game home stand for the Giants, as he looks for his eighth win of the season, while the Brewers will send Corbin Burnes to the hill and will go for his ninth win of the season for the NL Central Leading Brewers.

Webb dominates Braves in 5-0 win

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San Francisco pitcher Logan Webb held the Atlanta Braves in seven innings to five hits throws against the Braves line up in the first inning on Sat Aug 28, 2021 at Suntrust Field in Cobb County (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

Logan Webb continues to be one of the most dominating pitchers of the season for the San Francisco Giants, and his numbers show it.

Webb went seven innings, allowing zero runs on five hits, walking one and striking out six, as the Giants defeated the Atlanta Braves 5-0 at Truist Park.

Over his last 13 starts, Webb is now 7-0, as the Giants improve to 84-45 on the season and continue to have the best record in Major League Baseball.

During the 13-game stretch, the Giants are 12-1 that goes back to May 11 versus the Texas Rangers and over his last 73.1 innings, Webb has allowed just 12 earned runs in that span, and Webb has not allowed more than two runs in any of the 13 games, the second-longest streak since 1901

Tommy La Stella, who was robbed of extra bases on a fantastic catch by Joc Pederson to end the game on Friday night, got some redemption in his first at-bat of the night.

La Stella launched a solo home run to lead off the game off of Huascar Ynoa to give the Giants a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, and in the long run that would be the only run that the Giants would need against the first-place Braves.

Webb helped out his cause in the top of the third inning, as he doubled to left field off of Ynoa and moved to third on a base hit by LaMonte Webb, Jr.

Following the Wade, Jr., single, La Stella picked up his second RBI of the night, as he hit a sacrifice fly to Friday nights hero Jorge Soler in right field.

The Giants added three more runs in the top of the seventh and eighth innings, as Mike Yastrzemski hit his career-high tying 21st home run in the top of the seventh inning and then doubled to centerfield to score Wilmer Flores with the final run of the night for the Giants. Darin Ruf singled just before the Yastrzemski double to score Buster Posey, who singled to lead off the inning with a single.

The bullpen duo of Tyler Rogers and Jay Jackson finished off the 15th shutout of the season for the Giants, the most in the MLB this season.

Rogers gave up two hits, and struck out one, as he was able to get out of the jam without allowing a run.

Jackson came on to finish the game for the Giants, and responded by striking out the side to end the game.

NOTES: With the victory, the Giants have now been the best team in the National League for 105 days, the longest for the team since 1935, when they led the NL for 120 days, this according to STATS, LLC.

With their 84th win of the season, the Giants tie the 1993 team for the best record after 129 games since moving to California in 1958.

Webb threw a three-pitch inning in the bottom of the fourth inning, and it was the first three-pitch inning by a Giants pitcher since Madison Bumgarner during the 2010 season.

UP NEXT: Anthony DeSclafani will be activated from the 10-day injured list to take the mound in the series finale for the Giants. DeSclafani was on the IL with inflammation in his right ankle. Ian Anderson is expected to make his return to the Braves rotation and expected to make his first start since July 11, as he returns from inflammation in his right shoulder.

Soler ends Giants winning streak on one swing of the bat; Five consecutive wins ends with 6-5 loss to Braves

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Atlanta Braves slugger Jorge Soler slugs one so far out of the park for a three run home run in the eighth inning that it helps keep the game close against the San Francisco Giants at Suntrust Park in Cobb County (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

Joc Pederson maybe from the Bay Area, but he will do anything to beat the San Francisco Giants and he did it again in the opener.

Pederson made a fantastic catch, as overran the ball and crashed into a wall for the final out and the Atlanta Braves hung on to defeat the Giants 6-5 at Truist Park.

Tommy La Stella hit the ill-fated pitch that Pederson caught, as La Stella attempted to tie up the game off of Braves closer and former Giants closer Will Smith, who was able to notch his 29th save of the season.

The Giants were able to get to Smith earlier in the inning, as Wilmer Flores led off the ninth with a home run; however, Smith was able to get out of the jam and end the Giants five-game winning streak.

Following the catch, the umpires did go to the video review and it was confirmed that Pederson did catch the ball for the final out.

Jorge Soler gave the Braves the lead for good, as he hit the first pitch he saw from Zack Littell and put it into the left field seats to give the Braves a 6-4 lead.

Littell replaced Tony Watson, who came on to replace Kevin Gausman in the bottom of the seventh inning and struck out former Giant Adam Duvall for the first out. Pederson then walked and then Guillermo Heredia came off the bench and singled.

Ozzie Albies then doubled in Pederson and was the end of the night for Watson, and then Sler hit a 430 foot three-run home run to give the Braves the lead for good.

Georgia native Buster Posey gave the Giants an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, as he hit an opposite field two-run home run just inside the right field foul pole.

After a 35-minute rain delay in the first inning, Kris Bryant left the game due to right side tightness and according to Giants manager Gabe Kapler, the decision to pull Bryant was made before the delay.

The Giants lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers remained at 2.5 games, as the Colorado Rockies defeated the Dodgers 4-2 at Dodger Stadium.

Gausman went the first six innings, allowing two runs on six hits, not walking anyone and two strikeouts, as he did not fare in the decision.

Max Fried like Gausman also went six innings, as he gave up four runs (three earned), not walking a batter and struck out five and also did not get a decision.

NOTES: Gausman was activated from the injured list, and Chadwick Tromp was optioned to Sacramento to make room for Gausman.

The home run by Posey was the 194th by the team this season, as they continue to lead the majors in that category over the Toronto Blue Jays.

UP NEXT: Logan Webb goes for his eighth win of the season for the Giants, as he takes the mound on Saturday. The Braves will Huascar Yoa to the mound, as he looks for his fifth win of the season.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Solano and Viele staying in NY to quarantine for 7 days; Will Bryant stay with Giants after season?

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San Francisco Giant Kris Bryant gets congratulations from first base coach Antoan Richardson while rounding first base after hitting a fourth inning home run against the New York Mets on Wed Aug 25, 2021 at Citi Field in Flushing (AP News photo)

Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 Giants second baseman Donovan Solano was experiencing cold like symptoms and will be quarantined in a New York hotel for the next seven days. Manager Gabe Kapler was asked if Solano was a breakthrough case and Kapler said he didn’t want to add anything to what he had said in the post game presser. Also hitting coach Justin Viele is also staying back in New York after testing positive for quarantining purposes.

#2 Kris Bryant will be a free agent this winter, Bryant said that he makes all his business decision in spite of having heavy power broker Scott Boras as his agent and with the Giants being the hottest team in the game Bryant is weighing if he’d liked to come back next season.

#3 Bryant also said about playing for the Giants that they just put their head down and go to work no egos just hard work is the key to their success.

#4 The Giants are rolling and have won seven of their last ten games that said their getting some serious consideration from the oddsmakers to make the World Series. That said MLB has just recently released the schedule for post season and have scheduled game 7 of the World Series for Nov 3rd.

#5 The Giants open a three game series at Suntrust Park in Cobb County against the Atlanta Braves tonight for a 4:20pm PDT first pitch. The Giants will start Kevin Gausman (12-5 ERA 2.74) and for the Braves Max Fried (11-7 ERA 3.49).

Join Michael for the Giants podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsrasdioservice.com

Ruf’s 8th inning RBI single helps Giants sweep Mets 3-2

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San Francisco Giants’ Mike Yastrzemski scores on Darin Ruf’s base hit to right field in the top of the eighth inning as the Giants hold on to beat the New York Mets 3-2 at Citi Field in Flushing on Thu Aug 26, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

NEW YORK — The San Francisco Giants beat the New York Mets 3-2 for the second night in a row on Thursday at Citi Field to complete their three-game sweep.

Kris Bryant hit a home run on a fly ball to left center field in the first inning and LaMonte Wade scored, putting the Giants up 2-0.

In the sixth inning, left-handed pitcher Alex Wood gave up a two-run homer to Pete Alonso in his last throw of the night, allowing the Mets to tie the game at 2-2.

The Giants starter allowed six hits and two earned runs in 5 1/3 innings and walked two and struck out five.

San Francisco regained dominance in the eighth inning. Mike Yastrzemski led off with a single and got to second base when Curt Casali was hit on the right arm by a sinker from Mets reliever Seth Lugo. Darin Ruf singled on a ground ball to right fielder Kevin Pillar and Yastrzemski scored, giving the Giants a 3-2 lead.

Giants manager Gabe Kapler said that second baseman Donovan Solano tested positive for Covid-19 and will stay in New York while the rest of the team flies to Atlanta. Solano will likely be out for seven to 10 days.

“Donovan came in today, had some cold-like symptoms,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said postgame. “We tested him for Covid and he tested positive for Covid and that’s why we placed him on the IL.”

The Giants improved to 83-44 and maintain a three-game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers at the top of the NL West, as well as the best overall winning percentage in the league (.654). The Mets hopes of making the playoffs, meanwhile, are crumbling.

San Francisco starts a three-game series against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Friday. First pitch is at 4:20 p.m.

Giants two run seventh pays off edge Mets 3-2

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San Francisco Giants Alex Dickerson slides in past the New York Mets catcher Patrick Mazeika to score one of the two runs for the Giants in the top of the seventh inning at Citi Field in Flushing on Wed Aug 25, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

NEW YORK — The San Francisco Giants overcame a late lead by the New York Mets and held them off with the bases loaded in a high-stress ninth inning to win 3-2 on Wednesday night at Citi Field.

After Mets starting pitcher Taijuan Walker retired his first 11 batters, Kris Bryant hit a home run to center field in the fourth inning to give the Giants a 1-0 lead.

In the fifth inning, Home Run Derby champion Pete Alonso reached on a throwing error by third baseman Bryant and Jonathan Villar scored, tying the game at 1-1.

Giants starting pitcher Johnny Cueto, who came off the injured list, threw back-to-back strikes to Brandon Nimmo but issued a seven-pitch walk that brought Alonso up to bat. Cueto exited after 4 2/3 innings and gave up five hits, three walks and two strikeouts.

“I know Alonso is a great hitter, what I wanted to do was either get a flyball or a grounder, which is what I got, but an error was committed and sometimes that happens,” Cueto said.

The Mets took a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning when Dominic Smith doubled on a sharp line drive to right field and allowed Michael Conforto to score.

But the Giants made a comeback in the seventh inning. Brandon Crawford hit a two-run double on a sharp line drive to Conforto in right field, and Bryant and Alex Dickerson scored.

San Francisco’s 3-2 lead was threatened in the ninth inning when the Mets had the bases loaded. But left-handed pitcher Jake McGee induced a popup from Alonso that sealed the victory for the Giants.

“We’re not going to dwell on the fact we didn’t play our cleanest game,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. “We’re going to appreciate the fact we won the baseball game on the road against a team that’s especially hungry and we’re going to turn the page and get ready to play tomorrow’s baseball game.”

The Giants improved to 82-44 and sit at the top of the NL West, three games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers. San Francisco has the best overall winning percentage in the MLB at .651. Meanwhile, the Mets are battling for a spot in the playoffs.

First pitch for the third and last game of the series on Thursday is at 4:10 p.m. Giants left-handed pitcher Alex Wood (10-4, 4.11) will face Mets right-handed pitcher Carlos Carrasco (0-2, 8.82).